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Dreadhorse Chapter 8
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Captain Ramirez adjusted his high-tech helmet, the HUD (Heads-Up Display) flickering momentarily as Jupiter City’s notorious glitches made an appearance. Beside him, Sergeant Kimara “Kim” Lee double-checked her non-lethal stun baton, while Private Jenkins fumbled with his communication device, which emitted a series of garbled beeps.
“Alright team,” Ramirez began, his voice calm despite the chaos around them, “our target is the Techno-Taco Truck on 5th and Main. Reports say they’re distributing unauthorized holographic menus.”
Kim raised an eyebrow. “Unauthorized holographic menus? Isn’t that like, our own job?”
Ramirez sighed. “Exactly. But apparently, they’ve been… creative. Let’s move out.”
As the squad approached the brightly lit taco truck, the carousel restaurant’s holographic horse flickered beside them, momentarily blending taco truck colors into a psychedelic display. Ramirez tapped his helmet, trying to stabilize his vision. “Ignore the glitches. Stay focused.”
Private Jenkins, new to both the military and the city, glanced nervously at the shimmering horse before turning back to his squad. “Uh, Captain, do we have a protocol for… animated holograms?”
Before Ramirez could respond, the taco truck’s holographic menus sprang to life, projecting dancing tacos and salsa drums that synced with the ambient music from the nearby restaurant. The squad froze, momentarily mesmerized by the spectacle.
Kim couldn’t help but chuckle. “Looks like the tacos are having their own party. Maybe we should join.”
Ramirez pinched the bridge of his nose. “No time for that. Jenkins, initiate standard arrest procedure.”
Jenkins nodded, raising his stun baton. As he did, the holographic menus glitched again, causing the tacos to multiply rapidly, creating a dizzying array of moving projections. The squad struggled to keep their balance amidst the visual chaos.
Suddenly, one of the holographic tacos “spoke,” its pixelated face animated with a goofy grin. “Hey there, heroes! Want some queso with that?”
Kim burst out laughing. “Captain, the tacos are mocking us!”
Ramirez tried to maintain authority. “Focus, team. We need to shut down their systems.”
He stepped forward, reaching for the truck’s control panel. As he did, a holographic salsa drumstick flew out, smacking him gently on the back. “Nice try, officer!”
Jenkins finally managed to tap into the truck’s system, his device beeping triumphantly. “I’ve got it! Initiating shutdown… now!”
The holographic menus began to stutter and fade, but not before one last display: a taco wearing a sombrero doing a backflip. The squad couldn’t help but laugh, the tension dissolving in the face of such absurdity.
Kim clapped Ramirez on the shoulder. “Good job, Captain. Maybe next time we can handle taco-themed crimes more smoothly.”
Ramirez couldn’t suppress a smile. “Next time, let’s stick to less… animated targets. Come on, let’s process them.”
As they proceeded to detain the taco truck owner, the carousel horse hologram finally stabilized, returning to its gentle whirl. The squad walked away, their uniforms slightly smudged with virtual salsa and queso residue, a testament to their unusual arrest.
Private Jenkins glanced back, a grin spreading across his face. “Well, that was the first time I’ve laughed on duty. Think our superiors will like this report?”
Kim winked. “As long as you include the part about sentient tacos, you’ll be fine.”
Ramirez shook his head, chuckling. “Only in Jupiter City would a military squad end up chasing down holographic tacos. Let’s head back before something even weirder happens.”
As they disappeared into the neon-lit streets, the carousel restaurant continued its gentle rhythm, the occasional glitch adding a touch of unpredictability to the vibrant cityscape. In Jupiter City, even a routine arrest could turn into an unforgettable adventure.